October Perennial of the Month-Toad Lily

If you think the most exotic perennial you can grow in the shade is a hosta, meet the toad lily, Tricyrtis formosana.

Toad lilies resemble tropical orchids with their six tepals (When sepals and petals are indistinguishable from each other), but this member of the lily family is hardy to zone 4 in the US. Originating in Taiwan, it is not considered invasive, but it will naturalize and form colonies in the garden with its creeping rhizomes. The common name comes from the bulging nectaries under the petals and the spots that resemble the markings on toads.

Although there are as many as 20 different species of Tricyrtis, only two, T. formosana and T. hirta, are usually found in the trade. Of these two species, there are numerous cultivars with flowers ranging from white to pink to purple, all with darker spots. Some cultivars like ‘Autumn Glow’ have variegated foliage.

Toad lilies love open, full to partial shade where they can grow 2-3’ high and wide. The best placement is near a patio or walk where you can appreciate the tiny flowers when in bloom. Toad lilies prefer rich, organic soils and will not tolerate dry shade, so don’t let them dry out.

They pair well with other shade-loving plants, adding an exotic flavor to sometimes dull shade gardens that, by the end of the season, are done flowering and looking spent.

What I love about this plant:

-Late season, exotic-looking blooms from August through frost.

-Deer resistant.

-Grows in part to full shade.

-Low-maintenance perennial.

What’s not so great:

-Most parts of the plant are toxic-keep children and pets away.

-Although deer resistant, toad lilies are not rabbit, slug, or snail resistant.

-Comments or questions? Email Garden-Lou at gardenloustl@gmail.com

Words and photos by Jo Batzer

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